What about Apple? Or iPod? Or iMac? Or iPhone? What about PPC-6700? What about Microsoft? Or Windows? Or Office? What about Sprint? What about Verizon? What about Playstation? What about XBox? What about Slingbox? What about Blackberry? What about Directv? What about Quicken? What about Dell?

Is there something missing from the 3 categories (fear, hope, love)? Interestingly, many of our posts are about complaints concerning the gadgets or services we use. Might there be another category called “Necessity” for why we buy and use certain gadgets (or continue to use certain gadgets and services while we face constant problems)?

By now PTIers you all know that I am a real skeptic, always questioning every move that the big Companies make. Always questioning their motives. Always trying to uncover the underlying scam! Today, while paying bills on Quicken, I got an interesting message alert. The message indicates that after April 30th, my version of Quicken (2005 Premiere) will no longer work with online services including electronic bill payment and statement downloads!!!! The only way to resolve the issue is to upgrade to the 2008 version. I have been a Quicken user since the early 90s and I never been FORCED to upgrade. Since the 2005 purchase, I really have no functional reason to upgrade. Quicken is performing every function that I need it for.

Let me hear from you PTIers is this a scam or is Quicken really making services better?? Maybe they have found a sure fire method to generate sales! Which is it? Let me know. How would you feel if GM called you up and told you that your car would no longer work after a certain date and told you the only solution was to purchase a new car? What about your cell phone? What about some other household appliance? Would you accept this? Why should we accept this with Quicken??? I bought a product with certain expectations, no mention that the services would be discontinued or stop working after a certain date. Is this ethical? How often will Quicken be allowed to change the format? Every other year? Every year? Every month? Why aren’t they compelled to keep their loyalest customers satisfied?

Bottomline, I don’t buy it. I wasn’t complaining about the functionality. I didn’t ask Quicken to change anything. So when sales get low, change the format and screw the folks that are currently using your product. Well, since I am in the market for new financial software, let me know what I should change to!!! Come on PTIers let me hear from you!

You might me be asking, What’s Mint? Well, before I tell you, I’ve been a Quicken user for more years that I can count. For all of these years, something in the back of my mind has always asked why I buy the updated version of Quicken every year. Also, I always wondered how I could use Quicken easily while not at the computer that contains the software.

Aren’t we in the age of the internet? Isn’t there a web based, secure, financial app that I could use that might replace Quicken? Well, last night I started testing one to hopefully make a clean break from Quicken. It’s called Mint. I initially read about it in the Wall Street Journal. As I get a little more familiar with it, I’ll give you PTIers an update.

I think TI is a Quicken user too. But of course he’s a “hard-headed, never try anything new until it’s obviously better than what I’m used to using” kind of guy. So if Mint is something that’s a good alternative to Quicken, it’ll be years before he knows.